The number of seminarians admitted into the seminary was between 31 and 36 with its inception in 1962.The seminary took off with two seminarians as staff: Stephen Obiukwu from Awka Etiti who completed his philosophy and Francis Ugwueze who just passed out from All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha.
The Rector was very strict with academics which resulted in the expulsion of many seminarians such that only 9 students were left among the pioneer class after their third year. Some seminarians were equally admitted in 1963.
The seminary could not admit seminarians at Awhum camp because of accommodation in 1964. Consequently, the 1964 set were rather sent to St. Teresa's College, Nsukka. This spurred the new Diocese to hasten their construction at the permanent site ( St. John Cross Seminary, Nsukka) to arrest the accommodation problem.
The Seminary at Awhum had to battle with many problems prominent among them were accommodation as earlier stated; problems of snakes as the place was an open field and the invaders who made away with the articles of seminarians when they were hung outside.
By 1965, the junior seminarians who were admitted into the junior seminary at Awhum in 1962 and 1963 were moved into St. John Cross Seminary, Nsukka.
Rev.Fr. O'Mahony became the first rector of the Seminary in 1965 with Anthony Ikechukwu Aso, Monsignor Taddeo Onoyima, M. Onyeabo, Paul Chinawa and Emmanuel Orji as members of the staff.
With the movement to St John Cross Seminary Nsukka, Awhum became a preparatory seminary where would-be Seminarians of St. John Cross Seminary Nsukka spent one year before moving to the seminary.
Thus, the pioneers who were between 31 and 36 in their first year were only 7 upon graduating from St John cross seminary and only 4 made it to the senior seminary and providentially all four were ordained priests. They are Frs Bernard Ngwoke, John Amadi, Augustine Nebechukwu, and Edward Kanife.